July 15, 2009

Protest Breed-Specific Laws - Save Bruce!

Why: We literally need HUNDREDS in attendance, to make a difference and to receive recognition. We are hoping to make this protest into a massive-scale event, (with your help) of course!

If you don't know much about breed-specific laws, you should hear about super sweet Bruce, a pit bull from Ireland.

Bruce has been making waves across the world, because he was taken away from his family one day due to Ireland's ancient BSL laws. Bruce is a lover, has an amazingly sweet disposition, and did absolutely nothing wrong. But has spent nearly two YEARS in a shelter because of the way he looks, and his physical and mental state has deteriorated dramatically. The vets at the shelter had to amputate his tail due to infection, and he has open sores and wounds across his whole body, and lost all his muscle. I have never actually seen a sore as bad as what Bruce is currently enduring on his head.

I had heard of Bruce's plight, and felt helpless at the time, since we have so many situations like this occurring in our own county - with ridiculous BSL laws in places like Detroit and Miami. And now these laws are in place in New York City's regulated housing projects. But this story is heartbreaking, and many groups have popped up in the U.S. to try to help Bruce. We are trying to plan a protest at the British Embassy within the next week to two weeks, to try to save Bruce's life, and to try to convince Ireland to get rid of these outrageous and inhumane laws. Bruce was given a "stay of execution" but can still be killed very soon, depending upon the judge's decision. We need help!

We will be using Bruce as our "poster boy" for the protest, and are hopeful that we can help sway the judge in the case to allow Bruce to live. But this protest goes beyond one dog in one city. We are fighting all BSL ordinances in our city, in our country, and around the world. The New York Housing Authority enforced BSL upon pit bulls (and dobermans, rottweilers and tons of other breeds) just last month. Many elderly people in city-regulated housing are now in jeopardy of losing their pets because of this law, and I've received heartbreaking letters from people asking for help. We want to make New York is aware that we will not stand for any BSL in our city. Unfortunately, the idea of BSL in New York City has come closer to a reality, now that the New York Housing Authority was able to enact their law. Miami, Detroit, Denver, and many other cities already have BSL laws in place. Your dog could be next, so we need your support!

I am hopeful that you will each pass this email on to others, so that the word will spread like wildfire! Post the protest on your blogs, facebook pages, and begin networking. Bring your friends, bring your dogs, bring your mom! Punish the deed, not the breed!